Tina Dolidze: Advocating for Theological Language as a Special Linguistic System

As the first theoretician of the Biblical language, Origen distinguished two separate,specific languages ̶ the logical-discursive language of Greek intellectualism and the Biblical narrative. In fact, the combination of these distinct linguistic models createdtheintegral linguistic system of Patristic theology, which takes on a referential function towards a theological way of thinking, its inherent referent. This novellinguisticproduct of Christian theologizing reveals specific semantic principles and constitutive elements that call for deeper exploration. This contribution will present on an overviewof the mainpeculiaritiesofaregulartype,first that of the semantic aspect of Patristic theological language, and subsequently the delineation of its structural elements.Two theoretical premises are proposed for analysis: (a) linguistic action in Patristic texts reproduces the statements of a Patristic theory of language; and (b) both theory and practice of theological language in Patristics point to language as an ontological entity. In the framework of the above postulates, essential semantictraitsof theological language will be proposed, such as (a) the equivocality of language; (b) overlapping denotations; (c) the inclusive nature of silence in religious diction; and (d) theological articulation as a mimetic sign.The introductory analysis of the structure of theological language will trace the micro- and macro-constitutive linguistic units in theological discourse with the aim of disclosing the structure’s specific content as well as themode of its operation.The investigation refers principally to theological language as practiced in the writings of Gregory of Nyssa.